Palstar products are designed by
Hams for Hams carrying on the
Palstar tradition for high-quality
products designed and
manufactured in Ohio, USA.
AT5K-HP 3500 Watt
Antenna Tuner
l 3500 W PEP SSB
l 160 m to 6m
l Custom capacitors with 6:1 vernier drives
l 7” H x 16.25” W x 19.75” D
9676 N. Looney Rd,
Piqua, OH 45356 USA
(937) 773-6255
(800) 773-7931
(937) 773-8003 (Fax)
www.palstar.com
PALSTAR
AT5K-HP 3500 Watt Antenna Tuner
Technical Manual
Designed and Manufactured in the USA
Copyright 2014 Palstar, Inc.
PALSTAR
l INPUT & ANTENNA TUNING: 2 x Variable capacitors 600 pF, 6 kV
Peak, 6:1 Vernier Drives for both capacitors
l INDUCTANCE: 28 μH roller inductor, 10 amps, 5 kV,
10 ga. wire wound on steatite ceramic core,
silver plated shaft and wheel
l ANTENNA SELECTOR SWITCH: 6 position:
Coax 1 - tuned and tuner bypass
Coax 2 - tuned and tuner bypass
Bypass coax connector;
Coax to EXT BALUN for BAL FEED
Switch wafers are 7 kV/10A rated
l REAR PANEL CONNECTORS:
SO-239: RF Input, Coax 1 & 2, Bypass,
Coax to EXT BALUN
l FREQUENCY COVERAGE: 1.8 - 54 MHz
l POWER MAXIMUM: 5000 W PEP SSB, 3500 W single tone
l IMPEDANCE RANGE: 8 to 2000 Ω, 160m to 10m
(assuming resisitive load)
Reduce power for lower Z-range
l DIMINSIONS: 7” H x 16.25“ W x 19.75” D (incl. terminals)
l WEIGHT: 20 LBS, 9 Kg
l CHASSIS & COVER: 11 ga., .090 gold Iridite Treated Aluminium
AT5K-HP SPECIFICATIONS
Page 14
Page 1 PALSTAR
The Palstar AT5K-HP Antenna Tuner is an American-made impedance
matching network that can provide unbalanced and balanced ouput
with a power rating of 3500 watts (single tone carrier) and 5000 watts
PEP at certain Z ranges.
Tuning is achieved with the front panel mounted controls. The Vernier
capacitor dials allow for tuning withprecision and accuracy, while the
inductor crank handle facilitates coarse adjustments.
Page 2
Page 13
AT5K-HP GENERAL DESCRIPTION
PALSTAR
NOTES:
UNPACKING
Carefully remove the AT5K-HP from the shipping carton
and inspect it for signs of damage. If any damage is
apparent, notify the transportation carrier or dealer
immediately.
KEEP THE PACKING CARTON for moving, storing, or
reshipping the tuner to us for repair if required.
LOCATION
Select a location for the AT5K-HP that allows the
connectors to be free from any possible contact with
people, pets, or objects during operation and with
unrestricted air ow for cooling.
INSTALLATION PROCEDURE
Connect a coax cable from your transmitter to the RF
INPUT connector on the rear panel. Keep the cable as
short as possible. If you use a linear amplier, connect
your transmitter to the linear amplier input and the
linear amplier output to the AT5K-HP.
DO NOT USE MORE THAN 3500 WATTS (single tone
carrier) or 5000 WATTS PEP THROUGH THE TUNER.
INSTALLATION
Page 12
Page 3
OPERATING YOUR AT5K-HP
6. Set the OUTPUT SELECTOR switch to the position
matching your antenna connection. To tune your antenna,
the switch selection must be set to: COAX 1 TUNED, COAX 2
TUNED. Selecting COAX 1 DIRECT, COAX 2 DIRECT, or BYPASS
bypasses the tuning circuitry and tuning is not possible.
7. Key your transmitter and adjust the power level for a
reading of 100-150 watts on the FORWARD scale. Adjust the
INPUT, OUPUT, and INDUCTOR controls for a minimum
REFLECTED reading while maintaining a FORWARD reading
of 100-150 watts using your transmitter power control. Use
the supplied chart of approximate tuning control locations
for the dierent bands located at the back of the manual.
PALSTAR
This procedure takes patience the rst time. The input
and antenna controls vary the capacitors and provide
ne adjustments, while the roller inductor crank
provides coarse adjustment.
Page 4
Page 11
REAR PANEL
OPERATING YOUR AT5K-HP
GROUND post/wing
nut ground connector BYPASS coaxial
connector for output to
dummy load or resonant
antenna. Bypasses tuner.
COAX 2 coaxial connector
for output to Antenna 2
RF INPUT coaxial
connector for input from
transmitter or amplier
COAX 1 coaxial connector
for output to Antenna 1
BEFORE OPERATING
1. To avoid possible damage to the AT5K-HP set INPUT, OUTPUT,
INDUCTOR, and POWER RANGE switches as outlined in the
chart below before applying transmitter power.
2. Begin tuning with your transmitter/amp feeding the tuner
set at a low output power setting (50-100 Watts max).
TUNING
1. Select the band and frequency of desired operation.
2. Set TUNE and INDUCTOR controls to the suggested setting
before applying transmitter power (see chart). Actual settings
will vary from antenna to antenna.
3. Set your transmitter/amplier to 100-150 watts LOW output.
If your transmitter has a TUNE position, select that position.
4. Preset the INPUT, OUTPUT, and INDUCTOR values shown in
the chart.
NOTE: MINIMUM INDUCTANCE is 229 (max turns clockwise).
MAXIMUM INDUCTANCE is 0 (ZERO) on the turns counter.
WARNING: DO NOT OPERATE THE
AT5K WITH THE COVER OFF.
BAND C INPUT C OUTPUT INDUCTOR
SUGGESTED ACTUAL SUGGESTED ACTUAL SUGGESTED ACTUAL
160 M
80 M
40 M
20 M
15 M
10 M
58
49
50
47
55
40
60
50
54
55
48
40
78
162
200
212
196
200
PALSTAR
BALUN OUTPUT
coax connector to
connect external
balun for LADDER
LINE FED antenna
Page 10
Page 5
FRONT PANEL DESCRIPTION INSIDE VIEW
ROLLER
INDUCTOR
VARIABLE
CAPACITORS
1 2 3
4
PALSTAR
1. INPUT Continuosly adjustable input capacitor. Min.
capacitance = 0. Max. = 100.
2. DIRECT-TUNED MODE SWITCH Six-position rotary switch selects an
output coaxial connector.
a. DIRECT BYPASS selects BYPASS COAX CONNECTOR bypassing the
impedance matching circuit, but providing SWR, FORWARD, and
REFLECTED power meter readings.
b. DIRECT COAX 1 selects COAX 1 CONNECTOR bypassing the tuner
matching circuit, but providing SWR, FORWARD, and REFLECTED meter
readings.
c. DIRECT COAX 2 selects COAX 2 CONNECTOR bypassing the tuner
matching circuit, but providing SWR, FORWARD, and REFLECTED meter
readings.
d. TUNED COAX 1 selects COAX 1 CONNECTOR through the impedance
matching T circuit.
e. TUNED COAX 2 selects COAX 2 CONNECTOR through the impedance
matching T circuit.
Page 6
Page 9
e. TUNED COAX 2 selects COAX 2 CONNECTOR through the impedance
matching T circuit.
f. COAX to EXTERNAL BALUN selects COAX to BALUN CONNECTOR
through the impedance matching T circuit for LADDER LINE FEED.
3. OUTPUT Continuously adjustable output capacitor. Min.=0; Max.=100.
4. INDUCTOR 28 H continuously variable ceramic roller inductor driven
by a crank handle. Coupled to the crank handle is a gear-driven
precision mechanical counter; Max. = 0; Min. = 229.
μ
PALSTAR
RESTORING THE INDUCTOR WHEEL
When approaching the end stops of the roller inductor
(readings of Zero or 229) SLOW DOWN. Slamming the
roller wheel into the mechanical end stops on either
end of the roller inductor will decrease the pressure of
the wheel against the wire wound on the ceramic form.
To RESTORE wheel pressure on
the inductor push down on the
at springs soldered to the
wheel shaft located on each
end of the shaft.
AT5K-HP SCHEMATIC
COPYRIGHT PALSTAR 2011-2014©
PALSTAR
28
Coax Feed to
External Balun
for Ladder Line
Fed antenna
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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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